Retired VPL StaffVPL Member

I saw this yesterday and I think it's kind of funny. I also believe what he did was justified. He said he'd shoot the laptop if she did something like that again, and he followed through with his threat.

There are a lot of people in the comments and on tumblr who think that it was COMPLETELY TERRIBLE and that he was a bad, crazy parent. I don't really get why people think that. It's not like he threatened to harm her in any way, just took away the stuff that she didn't deserve and told her she had to buy it herself.

VPL Member

Serves her right, she's a disrespectful little brat. I'm a teenager but I don't act like that and I can't stand people that do. Too many people these days, especially kids and teens, make their iPhones and computers their main priority in life. It's pitiful.

VPL Member

I saw this yesterday and I think it's kind of funny. I also believe what he did was justified. He said he'd shoot the laptop if she did something like that again, and he followed through with his threat.

There are a lot of people in the comments and on tumblr who think that it was COMPLETELY TERRIBLE and that he was a bad, crazy parent. I don't really get why people think that. It's not like he threatened to harm her in any way, just took away the stuff that she didn't deserve and told her she had to buy it herself.

Click to expand...

Those are most likely the same people who would post something disrespectful towards their parents on facebook.

VPL Member

Our local news actually featured this story today. To me, I think it's stupid what the Dad did. He could've been smarter and just take it away from here, hide it, lock it away, whatever. He paid for the laptop, right? Well, now you'll have to deal with a child that will either keep asking for another computer or just go to the library and keep on ranting about their parents.

If I was here, I wouldn't have even friended my parents/Dad on Facebook if they're that temperamental. Block them, even. What I post online should be my own personal business. So what if she was ranting about her parents? Maybe she had nobody else to talk about it to? Facebook is basically like a soapbox--and parents shouldn't even get involved.

VPL Member

@Encode She tried to bash/humiliate her family publicly so he showed her how it feels to have it done. I'd say that is a helpful fix to a bratty child. Showing them exactly how hurtful it can be.

@Jared I also don't like how the laptop was disposed of, but he said he worked in IT (hinting it wouldn't matter if she had friended him or not since even a private post didn't keep it hidden).

Someone had mentioned how he could have cleaned up the laptop and donated it to someone who needed it and I agree; however sometimes when you're that upset over something you don't necessarily think rationally.

Do I think this was the BEST way to go about it? No, but it will definitely be affective. He does seem like a hard dad and a tough one to please but she is definitely spoiled if she complains about that minimal amount of chores. It probably takes away half an hour of her day (if that). And since when is going to bed at 10pm a bad thing? You DO have school the next day.

Approved VPL ArtistVPL Member

That's the best thing I've seen in a while. I know a lot of people my age and a few years younger even who should be old enough to have the sense not to whine and moan about how bad they have it when they have virtually no chores (sweeping and wiping counters must be so taxing), no work, and no responsibilities, but they don't. I agree with @Addiction that it could've been donated or something, but I still think the father acted appropriately. He owned the laptop, he paid for it, it was pretty much his.

Destroying it with a .45? Not completely necessary. I mean, it's gone, so she can't try to sweet talk it out of him, and there are other ways it could've left, but it's a pretty great way of putting his point across. He said it himself he already thought she was being some amount of disrespectful and whiny about wanting things and never wanting to work to get them, and shooting it up was kind of like saying, "Look. I love you so much, I bought this expensive thing for you. And I just spent another 130 dollars on it yesterday, even though I think you should work so you could do it yourself. Because that would teach you some responsibility. You have not learned any responsibility, and you are not taking me seriously. You will learn responsibility. You will take me seriously."

Personally, I know a lot of kids who could benefit from their dad thinking like this. And I would whine and cry if my dad came in my room, took my computer out into the yard, and took the shotgun to it. But I also know if he decided to do that, it would be because I deserved it.

VPL SupporterApproved VPL ArtistVPL Member

Her dad warned her previously, and he stuck to his word.
I don't think that's bad at all.
She sounds like she was a spoiled brat.

However, if my kid ever said that they wanted to be paid for their chores and were being over worked...
I'd pay them, but then I'd make them pay for their rent, their food, their clothes, the internet they use, the laundry- all that good stuff.

Approved VPL ArtistVPL Member

She totally deserved it, and since her dad was the one who bought the computer, paid for all its upgrades, so on so forth, I reckon he was within his rights to shoot the thing. Would certainly have taught her a lesson, I'm sure.

VPL SupporterApproved VPL ArtistVPL Member

Are you serious? You're all insane (no offense), you don't need to break something perfectly good, they could've donated it to charity, but as hicks seem to do, shooting stuff works best...

Click to expand...

If you have to put "no offense" before or after something- it's because you know it's offensive. Don't bother.
Her father made a promise to her. He said the next time she does something that he told her not to, he'd shoot her laptop.
He held through with his word. That's a good parent.

I'm not a hick, but if I said I was going to do something like that- I'd hold true to my word.

One computer not being donated isn't gonna make or break an entire charity.
HE bought the computer for HIS daughter.
HE put HIS hard-earned money into it.

He should be able to do WHAT HE WANTS with it- even if it IS shooting it.

Have you ever seen the "will it blend" guy?
Go look that up, and preach about charity to him.

VPL Member

If you have to put "no offense" before or after something- it's because you know it's offensive. Don't bother.
Her father made a promise to her. He said the next time she does something that he told her not to, he'd shoot her laptop.
He held through with his word. That's a good parent.

I'm not a hick, but if I said I was going to do something like that- I'd hold true to my word.

One computer not being donated isn't gonna make or break an entire charity.
HE bought the computer for HIS daughter.
HE put HIS hard-earned money into it.

He should be able to do WHAT HE WANTS with it- even if it IS shooting it.

Have you ever seen the "will it blend" guy?
Go look that up, and preach about charity to him.

I called the father in the video a hick, I didn't realise you shot a laptop recently. Sorry I don't think violence is a proper way to do things, he could've taken it away, he didn't need to shoot it, nor post the video to YouTube...I don't even see why he did post it on YouTube.

VPL SupporterApproved VPL ArtistVPL Member

I called the father in the video a hick, I didn't realise you shot a laptop recently. Sorry I don't think violence is a proper way to do things, he could've taken it away, he didn't need to shoot it, nor post the video to YouTube...I don't even see why he did post it on YouTube.

Click to expand...

He did it to prove a point to other spoiled rotten little brats out there.
I didn't shoot a laptop recently, but I have been to a shooting range recently and shot some targets.
Is a shooting range wrong? Perhaps I should have donated the targets to charity...

How is shooting a laptop... violent? Did it scream when he shot it? Was there blood, guts, gore, swearing?
I don't see any violence in that video.

I see a very stern father who held true to his word.
I am 150% positive he's tried taking it away, grounding her, whatever else.
He got to the point where enough was enough... It was obviously an extreme case, and she very well deserved it.

Approved WriterApproved VPL ArtistVPL Member

Girl, you're 15. It's called having responsibilities. Your parents pay you by keeping you fed and getting you nice things. Lol...

However... The father's response is not appropriate in ONE way, in my opinion. Comparing the daughter's "easy" life to his own as a child is not an acceptable analogy, as you (again, just my opinion) should never compare your own child to yourself or anyone else. Yes, he may have had to work more when he was young, but I don't believe in ever comparing your child to yourself or to anyone else in order to get a point across. He can say that her life is easy, but as soon as you compare somebody to somebody else, you remove the fact that they are an individual, and are different. Though in his case it may have been justifiable, I still would not do that to my child, I don't think.

I don't mind him shooting the laptop though.
Also, @tldr: Wow, calling him a hick. Nice. I'd call him a good parent, but whatever.

VPL Member

He did it to prove a point to other spoiled rotten little brats out there.
I didn't shoot a laptop recently, but I have been to a shooting range recently and shot some targets.
Is a shooting range wrong? Perhaps I should have donated the targets to charity...

How is shooting a laptop... violent? Did it scream when he shot it? Was there blood, guts, gore, swearing?
I don't see any violence in that video.

I see a very stern father who hold true to his word.
I am 150% positive he's tried taking it away, grounding her, whatever else.
He got to the point where enough was enough, and she very well deserved it.

Click to expand...

Guns are violent, shooting things is violence, "intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation." I'm not going to comment, I don't think she deserved a laptop, but I don't think making a YouTube video of shooting it is mature at all or good parenting. I don't even believe private citizens even have business owning guns, too much death and murder comes from them.

Girl, you're 15. It's called having responsibilities. Your parents pay you by keeping you fed and getting you nice things. Lol...

However... The father's response is not appropriate in ONE way, in my opinion. Comparing the daughter's "easy" life to his own as a child is not an acceptable analogy, as you (again, just my opinion) should never compare your own child to yourself or anyone else. Yes, he may have had to work more when he was young, but I don't believe in ever comparing your child to yourself or to anyone else in order to get a point across. He can say that her life is easy, but as soon as you compare somebody to somebody else, you remove the fact that they are an individual, and are different. Though in his case it may have been justifiable, I still would not do that to my child, I don't think.

I don't mind him shooting the laptop though.
Also, @tldr: Wow, calling him a hick. Nice. I'd call him a good parent, but whatever.

Click to expand...

Alas, I suppose my parents didn't shoot enough things in front of me when I was a child...

And don't bother responding to this, I have no interest in arguing over something pointless.

About Us

Our community has been around for many years and pride ourselves on offering unbiased, critical discussion among people of all different backgrounds. We are working every day to make sure our community is one of the best.

Quick Navigation

Facebook VPL!

Donate to VPL

We have to face that the site doesn't run for free sadly. If it did, we would be all set but unfortunately the costs are getting higher and higher as we grow. We offer members a Supporter premium usergroup. If you donate to VPL you are joined to this group and you get many perks that members do not get.